MADISONVILLE, Ky. (4/6/13) – A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to start work on a new railroad overpass connector between Brown Badgett Loop (CR 1092) and KY 1069/Stagecoach Road in Hopkins County. Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 8.

The new bridge will serve as an extra entrance point to Madisonville North Hopkins High School from KY 1069/Stagecoach Road. It replaces a wooden structure that was closed to traffic in October 2007.

The new concrete bridge will be able to handle school bus traffic, which was unable cross the old structure.

According to KYTC District 2 Chief Engineer Kevin McClearn, alignment of the new structure will pull off of Stagecoach Road north of the existing bridge, but crosses the railroad tracks at an angle at the existing bridge site and ties into Brown Badgett Loop south of the current bridge location.

“We had a lot of input from the public that helped develop a project that fits the needs of both the traveling public and nearby property owners,” McClearn said. “It eliminates the need for a turn lane on KY 1069, and provides additional capacity for vehicles waiting to access Stagecoach Road from the high school.”

Brown Badgett Loop will be closed at the work site. Local access will be maintained from each end. The work zone should have little impact on traffic along KY 1069/Stagecoach Road until the new bridge is ready to be tied into the existing roadway.

Jim Smith Contracting Company, LLC, is the prime contractor on the $1.8 million project. The anticipated completion date is Oct. 31, 2013.